Computing: An in-depth look at IE9

The Web is in transition, going from a place where people read/watch/listen to content, to one where they actually create it. To do that well, users need the right tools.

That's why there's now a flurry of updated Web browsers. Two of the most-used programs — Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox - are both in the final beta-test phase for new versions. Both hope to advance the online world with features that make using Web applications easier and faster.

This week, I'll take a look at Internet Explorer 9 beta, which was released last Wednesday. On Oct 5., I'll review Firefox 4's beta.

Internet Explorer 9 Beta - Free, Windows 7 and Windows Vista only, www.microsoft.com/ie9. Yeah, you read that right. Windows XP users are out in the cold on this upgrade. Microsoft says it takes advantage of technologies not available in the older operating system. XP diehards, the writing on the wall just became more distinct.

In fact, IE9 really shines on Windows 7. While it will run on Vista, many of IE9's most useful features won't work on it. That's because it takes advantage of unique aspects of Windows 7, such as Jump Lists and Aero Snap.

With IE9, Microsoft has taken a very minimalist approach to the browser's design. When you first run IE9, you'll notice the toolbars and some navigation features are gone. For example, there's no longer a separate search box - the URL field now doubles for search. And as in Firefox and Google's Chrome, searching in this field scans both the Web and your Favorites and History.

You access most settings via a single gear icon on the far right of the browser's header; a star icon opens up Favorites and History. There are also buttons in the address field for stopping/starting a page load and switching to Compatibility mode (in which the browser runs as though it's IE7). That's it - the rest of the browser is devoted to showing you the Web page. If you just can't stand all this simplicity, you can turn on two toolbars - the Command Bar and Favorites bar - but they're limited to sharing a single row above the main browser window.

In Windows 7, individual Web pages can act like applications. Drag their icons from the address field down to the taskbar. This pins the icon in place, and when you click on it, it launches the Web page in an even more minimalist view in IE9.

Web developers can take advantage of Windows 7's Jump List feature to highlight different areas of their sites. Just as right-clicking on a Windows 7 application in the taskbar will bring up a list of commands for a program, right-clicking on a pinned site can launch a menu of different features on a website.

Another Windows 7-only feature: You can "tear away" a tab to create another window, just as you can in most modern browsers. But in IE9 on Windows 7, drag it to the edge of the screen and it will use the Aero Snap feature to automatically fill up exactly half the screen.

Internet Explorer has long had a reputation for being slower than Firefox, Chrome or Apple's Safari browser, but this new version has nothing to be ashamed of. Microsoft has sped up the browser by reworking how it renders Web technologies like Javascript.

It also takes advantage of modern video cards to speed up page and graphics rendering with a feature called hardware acceleration, which is similar to the way these cards are used to make 3D games faster. The speed boost works in both Windows 7 and Vista, so long as you've got a decent video card, you'll get the benefit in either OS. While IE9 is not the fastest browser on the block ­- that honor currently goes to Google's Chrome - it's finally competitive.

Keep in mind this is unfinished software, and if you install it, you will no longer have access to your previous version of Internet Explorer. Still, if you're brave and want a glimpse at the future of Web browsing in Windows, it's more than worth it.